Medical Spas, cosmetic dermatologists, and plastic surgeons have found Intense Pulsed Light devices (IPLs) to be effective in treating a variety of cosmetic conditions, from acne, to pigment and age spots.

Since IPL medical devices use a ‘pulse’ of light they deliver their energy into the dermis over a longer time than a laser, providing different treatments and usually resulting in less pain for the patient.

IPL devices have been embraced as a preferred treatment technology by plastic surgeons, dermatologists, and aesthetic physicians.

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) is a non-laser flash lamp light source that emits broad spectrum, high-intensity visible and infrared (IR) light and is used to treat a wide variety of conditions including hair reduction, acne (Including PDT), Rosacea, dyschromias and telangiectasias, and age related treatment of facial lines and creases. Wavelengths are chosen by selecting a particular wavelength filter or attaching a specific treatment head or hand piece that is configured with the filter already attached.

When treated with IPL, the amount of visible improvement in treating wrinkles and creases is usually less remarkable than an ablative laser; but, there’s less pain and recovery time and significant improvement when treating dyschromias and erythema generally results in overall patient satisfaction.

Visible, shorter wavelengths are used to target hemoglobin (blood) and melanin (pigment) with longer infrared wavelengths targeting water in the skin. Since these devices operate with a ‘pulsed’ light instead of a high-intensity focused beam like a laser does, they emit more scatter (feathering) and are considered to be less selective than a laser. With IPL, there are often more treatments needed to achieve optimal results than with a laser.

Intense Pulsed Light Devices (IPLs) are not perfect and don’t treat many cosmetic dermatological conditions but for a growing number of plastic surgeons, dermatologists and medical spas, they’re a important tool.

Technology providers of IPL Intense Pulsed Light devices include Palomar, Cutera, Lumenis and Sciton although there are a number of other manufacturers.

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